Bangladeshi Imam jailed in UK for sexually assaulting two children

A British-Bangladeshi imam has been sentenced to six years in prison by Gloucester Crown Court on June 4 for sexually assaulting two young girls.

Shah Masukur Rashid, 45, was the imam of a mosque in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, and also taught children the Quran as a volunteer tutor . The offences occurred between October 2018 and January 2019, when he was 37.

According to the Crown Prosecution Service, the case came to light when the two victims were overheard making uncomfortable comments about Rashid. When asked, they disclosed that he had touched them both over and under their clothing during Quran lessons .

Rashid was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault against one child and four counts against another.

Elizabeth Rushton of the Crown Prosecution Service said, "Rashid used the trust of his community and his position as a religious teacher to gain access to young children, whom he then sexually assaulted. I hope this sentence sends a clear message that the CPS will work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice and protect women and children."

The case has sparked a nationwide debate across the UK about child protection protocols within community-led religious institutions, with senior faith leaders now calling for a strict, zero-tolerance 'no-contact' policy towards children .

Maulana Najmul Haq, Imam and Khatib of South Woodford Mosque in London, urged strict compliance with child safety measures, stating that even for the sake of affection or emotion, a child should never be touched .